This article covers relations between India and Guinea-Bissau: the political relationship as the official brief describes it, visits and participation in events in both directions, and cultural links. It is based on the Ministry of External Affairs (MEA) bilateral brief of April 2026, and office holders are named as the brief names them, with the dates it gives.

Political relations

According to the MEA brief of April 2026, India and Guinea-Bissau have maintained warm and friendly relations for decades. The brief states that the Government of Guinea-Bissau is generally supportive of India, and that there has been regular cooperation at international fora such as the United Nations and NAM.

The brief also refers to considerable goodwill for India among both the Government and the general public of Guinea-Bissau.

Visits from Guinea-Bissau

President Mr. Jose Mario Vaz took part in the third India Africa Forum Summit (IAFS-III) from 26-29 October 2015, with a delegation that included Foreign Minister Mr. Artur Antonio da Silva.

The Minister of Energy, Industry and Natural Resources, Mr. Antonio Serifo Embalo, took part in the Mahatma Gandhi International Sanitation Convention in New Delhi from 29 September to 2 October 2018.

The brief lists these ministerial visits and participations:

  • Ms. Teresa Alexandrina da Silva, Minister of Justice and Human Rights, took part in the 'No Money For Terror' conference in New Delhi on 18-19 November 2022.
  • Ms. Martina Moniz, Minister for Education, visited India for the UNESCO-India-Africa Hackathon at Gautam Budhnagar on 23-25 November 2022.
  • Finance Minister Mr. Ilidio Vieira Te took part in the Finance Ministers Session of the Voice of South Summit on 12 January 2023.
  • Mr. Carlos Pinto Pereira, Minister of Foreign Affairs, International Cooperation and Communities, held a bilateral meeting with EAM on 23 September 2023, on the sidelines of the UNGA in New York.

Ms. Cynthia Djenaba Evora Cassama, Director General of Culture in the Ministry of Culture, Youth and Sports, took part in the 3rd Voice of Global South Summit on 17 August 2024. Participation in energy and defence events is covered in the development article of this guide.

Visits from India

Shri Vishnu Deo Sai, Minister of State for Mines and Steel, visited Guinea-Bissau in September 2015 as Special Envoy of the Prime Minister. He personally invited the President to take part in IAFS-III.

Shri Rahul Chhabra, Secretary (Economic Relations), visited Guinea-Bissau on 5-6 July 2021. He called on President Umaro Sissoco Embaló and Deputy Prime Minister Soares Sambú, and held delegation level discussions with Ms. Udé Fati, Secretary of State for international cooperation in the Ministry of Foreign Affairs.

In 2019, the then President H.E. Jose Mario Vaz contributed his thoughts to the anthology 'What Gandhi means to me'. The brief states that all important events on the cultural calendar are celebrated in Guinea-Bissau, and that the International Day of Yoga is celebrated in Bissau every year.

The Bollywood dance group Dance Smith performed in Bissau on 2 February 2020. A cultural troupe from Guinea-Bissau took part in the Surajkund International Crafts Mela from 21 March to 4 April 2022, and Guinea-Bissau took part in the Lusophone Cultural Week organised by ICCR in Goa on 4-6 December 2022.